CMS Announces Free COVID-19 Vaccines Available

​The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced that people can get COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated (bivalent) Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, at no cost, for as long as the federal government continues purchasing and distributing these COVID-19 vaccines. 

​This includes those with Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, private insurance coverage, or no health coverage.
 
According to the release, updated COVID-19 boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, helping to restore protection that has diminished since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading.
 
The boosters are authorized for use per the following:

• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent authorized for use in people ages 18 years and older.
• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent authorized for use in people ages 12 years and older.

 
Authorized as single booster dose administered at least 2 months after either: 

• Completion of primary vaccination with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine, or
• Receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.